Travelling this week to face the Slazengers at Wakefield, Driffield were still on a victory high from last week. With three points in the bag, the ladies we hungry for more.
Driffield travelled with 12 players, so one substitute down they knew they had a 70-minute challenge ahead of them.
Driffield had an upbeat and pacey warm up, making use of the car park steps at the club. Heart rates were high and Driffield started with tempo. Though five minutes in, shape, focus and structure was lost. Driffield’s possession was so dicey that the only way of differentiating between the teams was the colours. Driffield seem to find themselves in the underdog position week on week, and true to form the ladies went 1-0 down within 15 minutes.
In a familiar situation, Driffield recognised the need to focus and regain equality. They started to pass with more accuracy and pace, but the Slagenzers were always looking to intercept. Driffield had chances to score but didn’t convert. The next goal was Slazengers, and the teams departed at half time with a 2-0 score line.
Instead of panicking, Driffield rose to the challenge. Henri Bristowe worked the ball through well from midfield, using wall passes with Vicky Scott on the left and Zoe Howe on the right. Driffield managed a few effective chains of quick passing between Anna Kitching, Louise Morrison and Hannah Langley. Finally making a large distance quickly with some useful passing Hannah Langley worked the ball into the D and scored a cleanly struck the ball, which flew past the keeper into the left corner.
Driffield had more chances to equalise, with a couple of attacks and fumbles in front the goal. Nothing came until Fiona Tuplin worked the ball round the defence and had a great straight strike at the top of the D. The ball rattled the backboard to equalise.
The Slazengers reacted and persisted with the attack. They put a third goal past keeper Amy Evans ,who had made lots of great saves throughout the match. Now back in second place Driffield were given a lifeline as a Slazengers’ defender stopped a Driffield goal with a foot on the line. Fiona Tuplin took the flick, which went wide of the post. But still with five minutes to go Driffield did not give up and fought for the third.
The Slazengers tried their hardest to keep up in the Driffield half, but defenders Sue Morgan, Ziggy Green and Laura Hook kept them at bay.
Laura Hook effectively worked the ball out of right back, down the wing. Ashley Cowton put some long balls into to the D. Eventually the ball was picked up by Fiona Tuplin, who skilfully zig zagged the ball round a number of defenders and pushed it into the goal.
A score of 3-3 was a fair result for a bad start and determined comeback!
Driffield face a hard weekend in the North East next week, playing Newcastle Ladies on Saturday and Alnwick on Sunday after a team night out in Newcastle.
Driffield have five games to fit into three weeks as the season soon draws to a close.